City partnership helps thousands of young Londoners into work and education

A successful partnership between City Bridge Trust and The Prince’s Trust has supported over 5,000 young Londoners to gain the skills and confidence they need to move into jobs, education or training.

Over the last three years The Prince’s Trust has helped thousands of young people in London to live, learn and earn through £3m of funding from the capital’s largest independent funder, City Bridge Trust.

The funding is part of a 10-year partnership which supports The Prince’s Trust’s main programmes supporting Londoners, all of which provide essential support to young people facing the biggest barriers to education or employment, to move on successfully with their lives and build a brighter future.

The partnership is tackling youth unemployment in the capital, improving social mobility and supporting marginalised young people, such as those who are homeless.

City Bridge Trust, the City of London Corporation’s charitable funder, has also enabled The Prince’s Trust’s London programmes to scale up and support more young people than ever.

Alison Gowman, Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s City Bridge Trust Committee, said:

“The London programmes have had some fantastic results in the last three years, supporting young people from some of the most socially deprived areas in the capital into education and employment. Our funding has also helped many homeless people to find the right support and advice to transform their lives.

“Supporting young people is at the heart of City Bridge Trust’s work. Our work with The Prince’s Trust will benefit thousands more young Londoners in the years to come.”

Nick Stace, UK Chief Executive, The Prince’s Trust said:

“The Prince’s Trust works to develop young people’s confidence and skills to live, learn and earn. Together with City Bridge Trust, through a shared vision that every young person should have the chance to succeed, we are supporting young people in London to transform their lives.

“I have been fortunate to meet a number of young people whose life prospects have been turned around as a result of having participated in City Bridge Trust-funded programmes in London.”

Fairbridge, is a Prince’s Trust personal development and skills-building programme, delivered in London at The Prince’s Trust centres in Kennington and Poplar. Through this initiative alone, between 2015 and 2018, over 960 young people came through The Prince’s Trust’s London centres, and 96 personal development programmes were delivered. Some 87% of those young people moved on to further education, training or employment.

The collaboration has enabled The Princes Trust’s Get Started programme to extend the breadth and variety of courses delivered. Get Started is a free programme to give young people the skills and tools they need get into work, education or training.

MediaTrust, QPR in the Community and Vauxhall City Farm have all delivered programmes as new partners and contributed to a 68% increase in young people supported between 2015 and 2018.

Case study - Rida Amir, 21, of World’s End, with the help of City Bridge Trust funding, took part in Get Started with Animal Care, with Vauxhall City Farm.

“When I came to The Prince’s Trust, I had been out of education for several years and my mental health issues had become a barrier to getting into work. I had tried different career routes, but ended up feeling more confused and unsure of what the future held for me.

“I’d always loved animals but didn’t know where to start with pursuing a relevant career. After applying to pet stores and getting knocked back, I heard that The Prince’s Trust were running a Get Started with Animal Care programme in partnership with Vauxhall City Farm and immediately signed up.

I gained more from the five-day Get Started course than I expected. As well as knowledge of caring for animals and running a working farm, I learned how to build my confidence and set realistic goals.

“In September 2017, I enrolled on a Level 3 Diploma in Animal Management at Capel Manor College and continue to volunteer at Vauxhall City Farm. No-one is alone if they are going through the same problems I had. The Prince’s Trust mentors staff are the most genuine, proactive and lovely people you'll ever meet. The level of support and the work that goes into delivering the courses is fantastic.”

City Bridge Trust funding will continue to provide the essential underpinning of the vital life-changing work which The Prince’s Trust undertakes in London.

City Bridge Trust makes grants of £20 million a year to tackle disadvantage and inequality across the capital. It has awarded more than 7,700 grants totalling over £370 million since it first began in 1995. It helps achieve the City Corporation’s aim of changing the lives of hundreds of thousands of Londoners.

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK. The City Corporation is supporting the Lord Mayor’s Appeal Green Ribbons Campaign.

The UK’s leading youth charity The Prince’s Trust helps young people to get their lives on track. It supports 11 to 30 year-olds who are unemployed and those struggling at school and at risk of exclusion. Many of the young people helped by The Trust are in or leaving care, facing issues such as homelessness or mental health problems, or have been in trouble with the law.

The Trust’s programmes give vulnerable young people the practical and financial support needed to stabilise their lives, helping develop self-esteem and skills for work. Three in four young people supported by The Prince’s Trust move into work, education or training.

The Prince of Wales’s charity has helped 870,000 young people since 1976 and supports over 100 more each day.

Further information about The Prince’s Trust is available at princes-trust.org.uk or on 0800 842 842.